A few years ago our church faced a major lawsuit by a neighbor who resented that a church would be built in his community. So heated was the exchange that when I arrived at the township meeting, at which our zoning application would be discussed, there was standing room only. As each of the evening's agenda items were clicked off it was narrowing down to us. One of the councilmen leaned over to me and said, "It looks like all these people are here to protest you!" And he was right. The next day the Philadelphia Inquirer plastered my picture on the front page of the Neighborhood Section with an article to match.

Needless to say we were in a pickle. We were within our rights to buy the property and build in the farmland area that was zoned for churches. Yet we felt like public enemy number one.

One of our church members suggested that we needed to retain an attorney to represent us. She also recommended that it be one that was well known by the judges, and other prosecutors in the county. So we did. We went straight to the top man with the most influence and retained his services. That was the last township meeting I ever had to attend. The attorney (advocate) did the rest. He so intimidated the irate neighbor who insisted the other residents that eventually the opposition was dropped and the other neighbors sent us letters of apology!

The Advocate you chose will make or break your case. "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1 Let him represent you. Leave it in his capable hands and the results will be miraculous.